Union Temple of Brooklyn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Union Temple of Brooklyn
Religion
Affiliation	Reform Judaism (former)
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Synagogue (1921–2021)
Status	Closed; merged with Congregation Beth Elohim
Location
Location	17 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York City, New York
Country	United States
Location in New York City
Architecture
Architect(s)	Arnold Brunner
Architectural type	Synagogue
Architectural style	Neo-Classical
Date established	1921 (as a congregation)
Completed	1929 (1929)

The Union Temple of Brooklyn was a Reform Jewish synagogue in Brooklyn, New York City. It was located at 17 Eastern Parkway (Brooklyn). This spot is across from famous landmarks like the Brooklyn Public Library and the Brooklyn Museum.

The Union Temple was formed when two older congregations, K. K. Beth Elohim and Temple Israel, joined together. On March 26, 2021, the Union Temple merged with Congregation Beth Elohim. This means the Union Temple building is no longer used as a synagogue.

The building was designed by Arnold Brunner. It was finished in 1929. It was meant to be a community house next to a larger temple, but that temple was never built. This was because of the Great Depression, a time when money was very scarce. So, the 11-story community house became the main place of worship.

In 2015, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.

The History of Union Temple

The Union Temple was created by combining two older Jewish groups. Let's learn about them.

K. K. Beth Elohim: Brooklyn's First Synagogue

K. K. Beth Elohim was founded in 1848. It was started by Jewish immigrants from Germany and Alsace. They lived in the village of Williamsburgh, which is now part of Brooklyn. This group was the very first Jewish congregation in Brooklyn and on Long Island.

At first, the congregation met in a private home. In 1860, they bought an old church building. They changed it into a synagogue. This building also had a school. The school taught elementary subjects in English and German. It also taught religious lessons. The school closed when public schools became available in Brooklyn.

In 1876, a new synagogue was built on Keap Street. It was called the Keap Street Temple. For many years, it was the largest synagogue in Brooklyn. It is still one of the oldest synagogue buildings standing in the United States.

Temple Israel: Another Early Congregation

Temple Israel was founded later, in 1869. For a few years, they held services in a Y.M.C.A. building. In 1872, they bought a former church building on Greene Avenue.

Temple Israel built a new, grander building in 1891. It was located at Bedford and Lafayette Avenues.

How Union Temple Was Formed

Temple Israel and K.K. Beth Elohim decided to merge in 1921. They wanted to build a new, big temple. They chose a fashionable new location at 17 Eastern Parkway (Brooklyn).

The architect Arnold Brunner drew up plans. He designed a Neo-Classical temple with an 11-story community house next to it. The community house was built first and opened in 1929. But because of the Great Depression, the main temple was never built.

So, the congregation used the Community House for worship. For very important holidays, like the High Holy Days, they would use the Brooklyn Academy of Music. In 1942, the theater inside the Community House was changed into a sanctuary. It was designed to look like the old synagogue in Essen, Germany, which was destroyed.

Inside the Building

In the lobby of the Union Temple, there is a special plaque. It honors Mickey Marcus, an American soldier who helped lead Israeli forces. His funeral service was held at the temple. The plaque has a poem and a message from his fellow members.

Facing Hate Speech

On November 1, 2018, events at Union Temple were canceled. This happened after hateful messages were found inside the building. These messages included very offensive anti-Jewish words. The mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, called it "the vilest kind of hate."

Who Else Used the Building?

The German School Brooklyn (GSB) is located on the fifth floor of the Union Temple building. This is a German international school. It is recognized by the German government. The school is not part of the temple's religious group. Even though they share the building, they are separate.

The younger students (grades K-3) are planned to stay at the temple building. Older students (grades 4 and up) are scheduled to move to a different building in Crown Heights.

Well-Known Members

Some notable people were members of the Union Temple:

• Nathan S. Jonas (1868-1943) — He was a banker and helped many charities.
• Max Rose (born 1986) — He served as a US Congressman for New York's 11th congressional district. He also received the Bronze Star medal while serving in the US Army.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Kings County, New York
• Oldest synagogues in the United States
• Brooklyn Hebrew Orphan Asylum